New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-22
SOME NEW FRENCH NOVELS.
QUEER BOOK BY MALOT. .

Paris: G. Charpentier Ct Gle. Eow.York W. r.
jenkins.
VICES FRANCAIs. Par HECTOR MLor Paris: G.
Charpentier ct Gle. New-YOrk: W. r. jenkins.
The subtitle of NJ. Theurets story Is "Mnurs
dEmpoy6s," and the novel introduces the reader
to some interesting studies of French Government
clerks The tale has for motive O certain long
lingering succession suit called the Froidevie
case. 1t concerns large property which perverse
old nobleman bequeathed to the State to disap-
point his brothers ana to revenge himself upon his
wife, whom he had abused cruelty on the strength
of groundless suspicion to the legitimacy of his
only child. q girl. The poor woman. cast off by
him. and compelled to earn her own living had
beenunable to take any steps for her rehabilitation.
Her daughter however married and had child.
and this child, the heroine Of the story persuades
her father to prosecute the case vigorously. They
have obtained new and practically conclusive evil
dence, and come to Paris to demand the reopening
of the suit which has lain dormant so long that it
is generally supposed to have lapsed. Sourbernon.
the father is fortunate enough TO arouse the
curiosity of Jacques Marty. Young Gov
eminent employee who cncomterinC
Therese, the daughter. falls in love with
her forthwith and devotes himself to
the case. The way, however, ia not smooth. The
jeaouses Of officials, their personal ambitions, the
policy of ministers and last. though not least the
powerful adverse influence Of the Comte IL Entire
vernes who is of the brothers of The tesator in
the case, and occupies n high Office in the Imperial
household. are arrayed against the petitioners.
There IS much official intrigue and display Of trick
mess. The new case is so strong that it seems i'm
possible TO defeat but the event proves that cour
influence counts for more than Justice and equity,
and AZ last Sourbernon and Th6rese arc caiocd into
signing deed of pronunciation in consideration Of
h,,k r
their claim. The marriage ofJacques and ThGrese,
however, consoles them for the lapse of the Froide
vile case, and as neither they nor old Sourbcrnon
care much for wealth. aud understand thoroughly
the value of love in life they do not recognize
serious defeat in the outcome. The story is bright
and clever. full of the tender touches which char
acterize all VI. Theuriets writing and though deal
ing with much which belongs to the seamy side OF
human character. by no means cynical Pcrceval,
the ambitious and schemIng minister appears TO be
q portrait. and MANY other characters are too dis
tnct and idiosyncratic not TO have been drawn
from life
Hector Malot. piqued by the English habit of
dcclaiming continually against " French vices"
has written a novel founded upon British facts.
and since. as he says IN preface. it is not adj
mited by his neghbors that there are any such
things as English vices. no has given il the title
Vioes Francois. 1t is indeed n vulnerable point
which he has chosen for attack. for he has based
his story upon the Crawford-Dike case. There
was in that case more than opportunity enough
for the employment of the esprit GdaOis. but 1t is
TO NJ. Maots credit that he has RETAINED from
taking advantage of the opening With ono ex-
ception, indeed his story far less offensive than
the trial itself. and he has ngeniously elsborat
ed new theory of the case as to centre quite a
fresh interest in it. The hypothesis upon which
his story proceeds Is that Dixie was innocent, and
the helpless victim of a vicious woman who sought
nj the same time divorce from her husband and re-
venge upon n man who had declined to assist her
in continuing profgate career. Dixie figures as
Robert Mostyn, the lady whom he married In such
painful circumstances Is Jane Talbot, Mrs. Craw-
ford is Josey Macdonnel, and so forth. Among the
most remarkable features of the book is the really
careful and generally close and accurate study Of
English political machinery. The author appears
10 have examined its workings on the spot and to
have taken far more trouble than his country
are usqaly wiling to e1 os mn
canvass Of n metropolitan borough Is graphic and
faithful In most respects Where he is hopelessy
nj sea Is ia his portraits Of English women. They
are all Parisiennes. with tho exception Of Jane
Talbot, who reminds us Of tho description of MIRA |
Grote as "a very gentiemanly woman" The |
point Of the satire against English morals Is con-
siderably blunted by the fact that NJ Malots |
principal wicked parsonage, Mrs Macdonnel is |
as having received her education in |
France. On the other hand the principal English |
man in the story Robert Mostyn, is figured as n |
man OF the loftest character, utterly incapable of
the least of the offences charged against him. but
hopelessly entangled in a web Of perjury and sub
ornati0n The trial scenes are close copies OF tho |
actual proceedings, and very shrewd theory Is in
troduced to account for tho attempt of Dixie to |
reopen the case and TO explain the miscalculaton |
which plunged him deeper into the mire The |
whole transpostiOn of the case Is indeed so clever
" arranged that 1t would not be surprising if NJ. |
Maot should be suspected presently of being re- !
tanned by the late member from Chelsea to pro-
cure from the general public reversal of the con-
demnation which the courts have pronounced upon |
him. Certainly the book Is strong one but il |
cannot be said that 1t fulfIs the intention which |
the author so formally announces in his preface |
This also may suggest doubt as to the real motive
OF the publication.